Two new Foursquare American Express cashback offers have launched on 1 March 2013. They are:
Only the Pizza Hut and Shell offers remain active from February.
Visit my February post for more information on Foursquare and American Express.
Two new Foursquare American Express cashback offers have launched on 1 March 2013. They are:
Only the Pizza Hut and Shell offers remain active from February.
Visit my February post for more information on Foursquare and American Express.
I have just returned from a 3 night stay in Hotel Decameron Panaca near Quimbaya, Colombia. I thought I would write a little trip report in case any of you were thinking of enjoying the wonderful Colombian landscape and needed a hotel recommendation. This was a paid stay and I received no special favours or discounts or inducements of any kind for writing this review. It is only my honest opinion.
View from my room whilst lying in a hammock.
First of all, I will answer your most pressing question, where is Quimbaya, Colombia. It is in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia about 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia. More importantly it is known as Zona Cafetera (or Coffee Zone). According to Lonely Planet, the terraced slopes of the Zona Cafetera yield nearly half of Colombia’s coffee crop on just over 1% of the country’s total area. Aside from the coffee plantations the area has two main tourist attractions; The National Agricultural and livestock Park (El Parque Natural De La Cultura Agropecuaria) and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. I visited in late February and the temperature never dropped lower than 27 Celsius (80 Fahrenheit).
The hotel is all-inclusive, which usually means the almost unlimited quantity makes for less than top quality food and drink. This maxim was true for drinks. The cocktails were cheap versions of other drinks with key ingredients substituted for poorer local varieties. However, the food was outstanding. The selection was included a good variety of fruits and salad, several meat options, two soups and at least six different types of bread. If that wasn’t enough then outside if mealtimes you can help yourself a snack selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, soup, salad and plantain.
The Hotel Decameron Panaca had a small sauna, gym and steam room available with additional spa treatments available for between 30,000 to 100,000 Colombian Pesos (or you could pay directly with US dollars). There are two communal pools with one larger for families with a children paddling pool and loud music and one smaller with restrictions on noise.
The leisure facilities were nothing spectacular. The pools would not satisfy serious swimmers but are fine for sunbathers in need of a refreshing dip.
The two nearby attractions were the National Agricultural and livestock Park and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. The National Agricultural and livestock Park is located adjacent to the hotel across a bridge. It is a combination of zoo, farm and theme park. It has shows for the different animals – cows, pigs, dogs, horses – and different sections of the park where you can get very close to the animals. This is family-friendly animal-centric entertainment. The National Coffee Park in Montenegro is more of a traditional theme park with the theme being coffee. The rides were not earth shattering but enough fun to entertain a family for a day. The views from the skylifts of the rolling countryside, coffee plantations and distant mountains justify the entry fee alone.
Overall, I was disappointed in some qualities if the all-inclusive hotel and felt it lacked the necessary luxury of a long stay. However, for the short few days break I enjoyed it more than met my needs. It is a more than reasonable place to base yourself for exploring the wonderful countryside.
The second of two communal swimming pools.
The communal buffet area for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
National Coffee Park in Montenegro.
Canope at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
The Horse show at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
I have just returned from a 3 night stay in Hotel Decameron Panaca near Quimbaya, Colombia. I thought I would write a little trip report in case any of you were thinking of enjoying the wonderful Colombian landscape and needed a hotel recommendation. This was a paid stay and I received no special favours or discounts or inducements of any kind for writing this review. It is only my honest opinion.
View from my room whilst lying in a hammock.
First of all, I will answer your most pressing question, where is Quimbaya, Colombia. It is in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia about 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia. More importantly it is known as Zona Cafetera (or Coffee Zone). According to Lonely Planet, the terraced slopes of the Zona Cafetera yield nearly half of Colombia’s coffee crop on just over 1% of the country’s total area. Aside from the coffee plantations the area has two main tourist attractions; The National Agricultural and livestock Park (El Parque Natural De La Cultura Agropecuaria) and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. I visited in late February and the temperature never dropped lower than 27 Celsius (80 Fahrenheit).
The hotel is all-inclusive, which usually means the almost unlimited quantity makes for less than top quality food and drink. This maxim was true for drinks. The cocktails were cheap versions of other drinks with key ingredients substituted for poorer local varieties. However, the food was outstanding. The selection was included a good variety of fruits and salad, several meat options, two soups and at least six different types of bread. If that wasn’t enough then outside if mealtimes you can help yourself a snack selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, soup, salad and plantain.
The Hotel Decameron Panaca had a small sauna, gym and steam room available with additional spa treatments available for between 30,000 to 100,000 Colombian Pesos (or you could pay directly with US dollars). There are two communal pools with one larger for families with a children paddling pool and loud music and one smaller with restrictions on noise.
The leisure facilities were nothing spectacular. The pools would not satisfy serious swimmers but are fine for sunbathers in need of a refreshing dip.
The two nearby attractions were the National Agricultural and livestock Park and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. The National Agricultural and livestock Park is located adjacent to the hotel across a bridge. It is a combination of zoo, farm and theme park. It has shows for the different animals – cows, pigs, dogs, horses – and different sections of the park where you can get very close to the animals. This is family-friendly animal-centric entertainment. The National Coffee Park in Montenegro is more of a traditional theme park with the theme being coffee. The rides were not earth shattering but enough fun to entertain a family for a day. The views from the skylifts of the rolling countryside, coffee plantations and distant mountains justify the entry fee alone.
Overall, I was disappointed in some qualities if the all-inclusive hotel and felt it lacked the necessary luxury of a long stay. However, for the short few days break I enjoyed it more than met my needs. It is a more than reasonable place to base yourself for exploring the wonderful countryside.
The second of two communal swimming pools.
The communal buffet area for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
National Coffee Park in Montenegro.
Canope at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
The Horse show at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
I have just returned from a 3 night stay in Hotel Decameron Panaca near Quimbaya, Colombia. I thought I would write a little trip report in case any of you were thinking of enjoying the wonderful Colombian landscape and needed a hotel recommendation. This was a paid stay and I received no special favours or discounts or inducements of any kind for writing this review. It is only my honest opinion.
View from my room whilst lying in a hammock.
First of all, I will answer your most pressing question, where is Quimbaya, Colombia. It is in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia about 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia. More importantly it is known as Zona Cafetera (or Coffee Zone). According to Lonely Planet, the terraced slopes of the Zona Cafetera yield nearly half of Colombia’s coffee crop on just over 1% of the country’s total area. Aside from the coffee plantations the area has two main tourist attractions; The National Agricultural and livestock Park (El Parque Natural De La Cultura Agropecuaria) and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. I visited in late February and the temperature never dropped lower than 27 Celsius (80 Fahrenheit).
The hotel is all-inclusive, which usually means the almost unlimited quantity makes for less than top quality food and drink. This maxim was true for drinks. The cocktails were cheap versions of other drinks with key ingredients substituted for poorer local varieties. However, the food was outstanding. The selection was included a good variety of fruits and salad, several meat options, two soups and at least six different types of bread. If that wasn’t enough then outside if mealtimes you can help yourself a snack selection of hamburgers, hot dogs, soup, salad and plantain.
The Hotel Decameron Panaca had a small sauna, gym and steam room available with additional spa treatments available for between 30,000 to 100,000 Colombian Pesos (or you could pay directly with US dollars). There are two communal pools with one larger for families with a children paddling pool and loud music and one smaller with restrictions on noise.
The leisure facilities were nothing spectacular. The pools would not satisfy serious swimmers but are fine for sunbathers in need of a refreshing dip.
The two nearby attractions were the National Agricultural and livestock Park and the National Coffee Park in Montenegro. The National Agricultural and livestock Park is located adjacent to the hotel across a bridge. It is a combination of zoo, farm and theme park. It has shows for the different animals – cows, pigs, dogs, horses – and different sections of the park where you can get very close to the animals. This is family-friendly animal-centric entertainment. The National Coffee Park in Montenegro is more of a traditional theme park with the theme being coffee. The rides were not earth shattering but enough fun to entertain a family for a day. The views from the skylifts of the rolling countryside, coffee plantations and distant mountains justify the entry fee alone.
Overall, I was disappointed in some qualities if the all-inclusive hotel and felt it lacked the necessary luxury of a long stay. However, for the short few days break I enjoyed it more than met my needs. It is a more than reasonable place to base yourself for exploring the wonderful countryside.
The second of two communal swimming pools.
The communal buffet area for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
National Coffee Park in Montenegro.
Canope at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
The Horse show at the National Agricultural and livestock Park
Magic are running a competition called “Ultimate 80s Gig in the Sky” with British Airways
It is a special flight on Sunday 10 March 2013 with 80s music stars such as Kim Wilde, Bananarama and Tony Hadley performing their hit songs.
British Airways will attempt to break the World record of the World’s Highest Concert and raise money for Flying Start, the global partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief.
To have a chance to win tickets text FLY to 64100, texts cost £5 with all profit donated to Comic Relief.
Entries can also be submitted for free by post. Address is:
Community Relations Team,
80′s Gig in the Sky competition,
British Airways PLC,
HBBG,
PO Box 365,
Waterside,
Harmondsworth,
Middlesex,
UB7 0GB
Tesco Bank are offering 100 Clubcard points for providing them with your insurance renewal dates. 100 Tesco Clubcard points can be converted to 240 Avios at the standard rate.
You must enter insurance renewal dates for either car, pet or home insurance between 19 February 2013 and 2 April 2013. Your Clubcard number must be provided on the renewals website and the bonus Clubcard points are available once per customer.
Points will be added to a future Clubcard statement, this may not be the next statement that you receive, and the Clubcard holder must be the policyholder.
Tesco Bank will contact you by letter, phone or email or SMS with marketing.
If you have no insurance due for renewal then you can enter a random date and still collect the Clubcard points.
Click here for more information.
HatTip to PaidToShop.
Apologies. This post was delayed due to technical issues and should have been posted yesterday.
Iberia staff are striking over proposed staff cuts and salary reductions.
From the BBC
“Workers at the Spanish airline Iberia have begun a five-day strike in protest at planned cuts to jobs and salaries.
Iberia has cancelled more than 400 flights out of 1,000 scheduled for this week, with cabin crew and baggage handlers staging the walk-out.
A lack of services at Spanish airports are expected to affect more than 1,000 flights from various airlines.
Iberia has announced plans to cut 3,807 jobs after it reported mounting losses last year.
Unions are planning three separate five-day strikes in February and March.”
If you are flying Iberia over the next 5 days check to see if you are affected.
Check to make sure your travel insurance cover strike action with this helpful Which guide . Then go through the final print to say when and how much you can claim.
British Airways are offering up to 25% bonus Avios when you purchase through the Executive Club.
British Airways will give you an extra 25% Avios if you purchase your full 24,000 annual allowance. And if you purchase between 5,000 to 23,000 Avios, you’ll receive a 15% bonus.
You can purchase up to 24,000 Avios in any one year. And if you have family and friends who are Executive Club Members, you can purchase up to 24,000 Avios for them too (they then get the bonus).
The deal runs from 15 February 2013 to 28 March 2013. Simply sign in to your Executive Club account and make a purchase and the bonus will automatically be credited to your account.
24,000 Avios + 6,000 Bonus = 30,000 Avios = £399 (1 Avios = 1.33p)
23,000 Avios + 3,450 Bonus = 26,450 Avios = £383 (1 Avios = 1.45p)
This deal is a bit misleading as to receive the 25% bonus you must purchase the maximum annual allowance of 24,000 Avios at a staggering cost of £399. I normally only recommend purchasing Avios if you require a small amount to book a reward redemption. This deal requires a substantial outlay for a relatively small bonus. Past purchase bonuses have been as high as 50% without the need to purchase the maximum allowable. So, I would suggest giving this deal a miss and waiting for a larger bonus unless you need a lot of Avios very quickly.
A little bit of fun for you, especially if you’re getting exciting over the prospect of the new Formula 1 2013 season starting in March.
Hilton HHonors are running a fantasy Formula 1 competition. You pick four drivers, two constructors and one engine. Drivers score points for qualifying, number of laps completed and finishing position. Constructors and engines score for final positions. I’ve had a quick look at the scoring system and it seems picking the best drivers is the most important decision. You should look for drivers who qualify strongly, will finish in high positions and can be relied upon to finish races. Therefore Vettel and Alonso seem the best choices. Button would be an interesting choice since he is the main driver at McClaren now. You are able to change during the season with up to 3 transfers allowed before each race so don’t worry if you pick a load of dogs for the Australian opening Grand Prix. I think if you were serious about winning this competition it will require a lot of time and attention with constant changes before each race and qualifying session. However, there’s no harm in picking a team and forgetting about it and hoping since it don’t cost a thing to enter.
The Team Manager who finishes first for the entire season will win:
- A 5-day, 4-night trip for two to New York City, United States (including accommodation and flights)
- US $1,000 spending money
- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Merchandise
The year will be split into 4 Quads, each Quad containing 5 races from the racing season. After each Quad, the team manager who finishes in first place will win:
- A “Be My Guest” Certificate good for a 2-night stay at Hilton Worldwide properties.
- US $200 spending money
- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Merchandise
Each race week, 100 prizes consisting of HHonors points are available, based on the final position from the weekend’s race, as follows:
- 1st Place – 50,000 HHonors points
- 2nd Place – 30,000 HHonors points
- 3rd Place – 20,000 HHonors points
- 4th-10th Place – 10,000 HHonors points
- 11th-20th Place – 5,000 HHonors points
- 21st-50th Place – 2,500 HHonors points
- 51st – 75th Place – 1,500 HHonors points
- 76th – 100th Place – 750 HHonors points
The Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States, Canada (excluding Provice of Quebec), United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Germany and who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry and are a Hilton HHonors member (it’s free to join). Participation is limited to 20,000 teams, and will be closed if/when that number of teams is reached so hurry and sign up if you’re interested just in case this competition proves wildly popular.
To enter the Contest, visit https://fantasyracing.hiltonhhonors.com
From the BBC,
“Passengers using Heathrow could face a rise in ticket prices if a £3bn five-year investment plan proposed by airport bosses is approved.
Heathrow wants regulators to allow it to increase charges for airlines to use the airport, between 2014 and 2019.
The charges need to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with the final decision made by January 2014.
Under the plan, they will go up by the equivalent of £19.33 per passenger for 2012-13 up to a possible £27.30 in 2018-19.
Heathrow said the increased charges would pay for investment including the opening of the new Terminal 2 in 2014 and improved check-in and baggage facilities.”
This is terrible news for Avios users. If this does get approved then British Airways will surely pass on the increase making Avios redemption even more expensive. It will make positioning to lower tax airports such as Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt much more appealing for long haul flights, particularly economy class. There are three things to bear in mind with this news:
Fly Economy to Tel Aviv with El Al and American Express will give you £40 of your flight price back.
Book by 28 February 2013 for travel between 15 April and 30 June 2013.
Pay for your Economy flights with an American Express Card and receive a statement credit for £40.
The offer applies to Economy flights worth £399 or more.
Travel from London Heathrow or London Luton airports to Tel Aviv with El Al.
Book via this link
Offer valid one time only per Cardmember.
A statement credit is generally issued within 5 business days upon completion of the eligible transaction, but it may take up to 2 billing cycles to post to your account.
The £40 statement credit will be refunded back to American Express in the event of a cancellation by the Cardmember who booked and paid for the flight.
This may be a targeted offer so if you are unsure if it applies to your account give a call to American Express to confirm eligibility before booking.
Tesco Direct are offering 1,000 extra clubcard points when you spend over £600 on Greenhouses. 1,000 clubcard points can be converted into 2,400 Avios (not including any potential future conversion bonus). The cheapest option is Halls Green Popular 86 Lpt & Base at £625. This means an Avios valuation of 1 Avios = 26p. This is far too expensive for the deal itself but if you’re already looking for a greenhouse then it’s something to consider.
There is also 4.5% cashback available through Quidco.
Exchange at least £10 worth of Tesco Clubcard vouchers into Avios and you’ll automatically be entered into a prize draw for 1 million Avios!
You must be a member of either the Avios UK scheme or British Airways Executive Club Avios scheme, aged 18 years or over and resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.
You must exchange a minimum of £10 in Tesco Clubcard Vouchers between 2 February 2013 and 31 March 2013.
If you are part of the Tesco Clubcard auto-opt in scheme you have automatically entered the draw if you exchanged at least £10 worth of Tesco Clubcard Vouchers before 18 January 2013.
There is 1 prize of 1,000,000 Avios for one winner from the British Airways Executive Club Avios scheme and 1 prize of 1,000,000 Avios for one winner from the Avios UK scheme. The draws will take place on 15 April 2013 and the winner will be notified within 7 days. The 1,000,000 Avios will be credited within 28 days of being notified.
The winners may be requested to take part in the publicity of this promotion. By participating in this promotion you grant permission for your name and likeness to be used for advertising and future promotional purposes without additional compensation.
This is not a reason to transfer Tesco Clubcard vouchers to Avios. While the prize would be very to win the probability of doing so is very remote. It is better to keep your vouchers locked in a draw until a bonus transfer rate comes around. There is normally a 40-50% bonus rate every six months or so based on recent past experience. However, if you need Avios for an imminent redemption then you might as well make sure you convert at least £10 worth of clubcard vouchers.
Join BAA WorldPoints and spend £30 in one day before 15 March 2013 and earn 500 bonus points. 500 BAA WorldPoints can converted to 600 Avios.
BAA WorldPoints is a loyalty program for London Heathrow Airport. You can
earn WorldPoints on almost everything you buy at Heathrow Airport. It works by presenting a card every time you shop. You receive 1 WorldPoint for every £1 you spend and 1 WorldPoint for every £10 exchanged at Bureaux de Change.
However, this bonus sign up offer excludes Bureaux de Change purchases.
Sign up via this link or enter Promo Code 732.
The offer is available to new members only so if you’re already a member think about signing up a family member as you will earn far more bonus for a £30 purchase through this sign up bonus than with an existing account. Also, it can take up to 10 working days for a card to arrive so if you travel through Heathrow before this date then retain receipts and forward them to BAA WorldPoints for post-dated credit.
BAA WorldPoints can also be converted to Lufthansa’s Miles & More and Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club as well, though the conversion ratio is lower than Avios.
Remember you can also earn BAA WorldPoints and Avios by picking up foreign currency ordered through American Express if you’re travelling from Heathrow.
British Airways must be struggling to fill their London Gatwick to Las Vegas route as they’re offering an Avios discount with fairly decent availability. The offer is a 15% discount on all full Avios redemption bookings and Avios & Money bookings for travel between London Gatwick and Las Vegas. The distance between London Gatwick and Las Vegas is approximately 5,236 miles. That places into Zone 6 so an economy flight would normally cost 50,000 Avios, Premium Economy 75,000 Avios and Business 100,000 Avios.
Here’s how the discount works for some random dates I plugged in:
- £656 for paid ticket vs 42,500 Avios + £ 352.51 (1 Avios = 0.7p)
- £2,778 for paid ticket vs 67,500 Avios + £ 417.51 (1 Avios = 3.5p)
- £3,685 for paid ticket vs 85,000 Avios + £ 537.51 (1 Avios = 3.7p)
Viva Las Vegas!
If you haven’t been reading HeadforPoints then I suggest you spend a little time going through his analysis of the American Express Foreign Exchange. It is well worth the read.
For those of you who want a brief overview then American Express Currency Exchange is the new FX partner of British Airways Executive Club. You visit www.travelmoneynow.com/britishairways or www.travelmoneynow.com/avios and order foreign currency to be home delivered or picked up a numerous airport outlets. Now the interesting point for us is that you can “purchase” the currency with an American Express card and earn BAA WorldPoints when you collect at Heathrow.
If that wasn’t enough for us then British Airways Executive Club have a limited time offer if you haven’t ordered any currency through the American Express Currency Exchange before.
Collect 1,000 bonus Avios the first time you exchange £300 or more with American Express Currency Exchange. This offer is available between 28 January and 31 March 2013. You will also be automatically entered into a draw to win one of 2 prizes of 100,000 Avios for every foreign currency transaction.
You must be a member of British Airways Executive Club or Avios and order through their portals.
Avios points earned on a transaction will be processed 40 calendar days after the order has been paid for and collected. The 1,000 bonus Avios will be awarded in a separate transaction to the standard Avios points and will show in the members account within 30 days of the standard Avios award. Any foreign currency amount returned under the 31 day Buy Back guarantee will not qualify for Avios points.
Purchases of Sterling are eligible for Avios by non UK residents. Sterling Travellers cheques are not eligible for an Avios award.
You can check MoneySavingExpert to see if the American Express Currency rate is competitive. It’s usually near the top in my experience, especially if you can’t (or don’t want to) go into central London to collect your currency.
Malaysia Airlines have joined the OneWorld Alliance from 1 February 2013. OneWorld Alliance now consists of the following airlines:
First, you will know be able to earn Avios on Malaysia Airlines flights. The earning ratio depends on your fare class:
First Class = 150% of miles flown = fare class F & A
Business Class = 125% of miles flown = fare class J, C, D and Z
Economy Class (full fare) = 100% of miles flown = fare class Y, B and H
Economy Class (discounted fare) = 50% of miles flown = fare class K, M, and L
Economy Class (discounted fare) = 25% of miles flown = fare class L, V and S
Discounted economy classes are eligible for 50% Tier Point accrual.
Second, you will be able to redeem Avios for flights on Malaysia Airlines. Their main hub airport, as you would expect, is Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.
There is a direct flight between London Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur. An economy class one-way redemption will cost 35,000 Avios (plus £126.49 taxes and charges). A return flight is double the Avios (and T&Cs). The higher fare classes are multiples of economy with Business Class x2 and First Class x3 the Avios cost of an economy redemption. So, a First Class return from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines will cost 210,000 Avios (plus T&Cs).
However, because of the nature of the distance-based Avios system there is a redemption sweet spot with Malaysia Airlines. If you fly from Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur the distance is sufficiently shorter to slip into a previous Avios zone. If you are unsure of how Avios work then please read this before proceeding further. So, a one-way economy flight from Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt will cost 30,000 Avios (£67.46 taxes and charges). If you want to redeem for higher fare classes then this can make a real difference. A First Class return will reduce to 180,000 Avios, a saving of 30,000 Avios! Plus, because the flight does not depart from London it is subjected to much lower taxes. You will need to arrange positioning travel but if you live outside London then this won’t be too much difference then arranging travel to Heathrow. You could always use a Reward Flight Saver for an extra 9,000 Avios each way.
